The Borough of Stone Harbor will continue its year-long Centennial celebration with the biggest beach opening event in Borough history.  Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters will be joined by members of Borough Council, the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol, and local business owners for a beach opening ceremony on Thursday, May 22^nd, at 4:00pm at the 95^th Street beach.

“Our Centennial celebration in Stone Harbor is the biggest event in our Borough’s history and we want to make our annual beach opening ceremony reflective of our effort”, Mayor Walters said.  “We encourage all of our residents, visitors, and friends of Stone Harbor to join us on the beach and welcome what is sure to be a busy, fun-filled summer along the entire Jersey Shore”.

The Stone Harbor Department of Recreation has partnered with CBS3 in Philadelphia to create this large beach opening ceremony.  CBS3 will be providing live coverage from the Stone Harbor beach as a precursor to the Memorial Day weekend coverage along New Jersey’s southern shore beaches.  “We are deeply appreciative of the partnership with CBS3 with this ceremony”, Walters said.  “It’s important for us as a Borough and a region to create partnerships to reflect everything that’s fantastic about a Jersey Shore vacation”.

Mayor Walters will be rowed by the Beach Patrol to sea to place a ceremonial wreath in the ocean.  Once ashore, the Mayor will join Stone Harbor Beach Patrol Captain Sandy Bosacco to officially “unlock” the beaches for the 2014 tourism season, one day prior to most other beach opening ceremonies.  A ceremonial ribbon will be cut along the beachfront by students from the Stone Harbor Elementary School, Middle Township middle schools, and Middle Township High School.

Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the beach for the event prior to 4:00pm.  The Stone Harbor Department of Recreation will provide plenty of free beach games and activities to keep children entertained until 5:00pm when the official ceremonies begin and are broadcast live by CBS3.

The Stone Harbor Beach Opening Ceremony is one of many special events being held throughout the year by the Borough.  On Friday, May 16^th, Borough Council will re-enact its first ever Council meeting held 100 years ago at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor, beginning at 5:00pm.  In July and August, the Borough will also host four free concerts featuring the Jersey Shore Pops.

One of Stone Harbor’s most popular summer events returns on Sunday, June 15^th.  For the seventh consecutive year, the Stone Harbor Farmer’s Market returns to the Water Tower Plaza located at 95^th Street and Second Avenue.  The Market will be held every Sunday through September 7th from 8:00am until 12:30pm.

“The Stone Harbor Farmer’s Market has truly become a destination event for residents and visitors throughout the southern New Jersey seashore region”, said Stone Harbor Councilwoman Joan Kramar.  “This year, several new vendors will join the market offering fresh produce, meats, desserts and other items grown in and indigenous to southern New Jersey.  You can have breakfast at the Market, and take home everything from salads to produce to breads and pasta to prepare a complete dinner”.

The debut of the 2014 Stone Harbor’s Farmer’s Market on June 15^th will include some extra giveaways and entertainment for the public.  The event will feature a special parsley ribbon cutting at 9:00am where attendees will be able to receive a sample of the parsley along with a reusable grocery style bag decked out with the Borough’s Centennial logo.  Live music with a performance by Jeff Nowmos, Guitarist and entertainment will be provided by local radio station WCZT 98.7FM the Coast which will broadcast live from the Market.

There is no fee to visit the Stone Harbor Farmer’s Market.  Parking is available nearby in the Borough’s municipal parking lot, along with ample off street parking.

Here is a list of the vendors confirmed for opening day of the Stone Harbor Farmer’s Market and their respective offerings:

City to Shore (gourmet oils, vinegars, sea salts); Clinton Conover Farms (New Jersey produce); Crespelia Gourmet Creperie (crepes); Gaiss’ Meat Market (smoked meats, sausages, cheeses); Green Acres Family Farm/Busy Bees NJ (honey products); Hanks Sauce LLC (hot sauce); Harry & Beans Coffee (coffee, juices, smoothies); Jalma Farms (beach plums); Jeannette’s Bloomers (fresh cut flowers); Mamma’s Homemade (applesauce); Nummytown Farm & Nursery (vegetables, fruits); The Nutty Professor (nuts, trail mix); The Painted Pie (baked goods, breads); Rick’s Seafood (fresh seafood); RSK Doughnuts (doughnuts, water, soda); S&S Kitchens (cakes, sweetbreads); Tony’s Farm Table (mozzarella, flatbreads, sauce, pesto); Vera Pasta (pasta, ravioli, gnocchi, sauces), and Woodland Produce (Jersey Fresh fruits, vegetables).

What was a Borough Council meeting like in a Cape May County seashore community 100 years ago?  The public will be able to witness the re-enactment of a meeting a century ago on Friday, May 16^th, at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor at 5:00pm.

As part of its Centennial Celebration, Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters and members of the Stone Harbor Borough Council will re-enact the first-ever Council meeting that shaped Borough government 100 years ago.  The meeting will include comments and resolutions that set a local government in place on the southern end of the Seven Mile Beach.

“This will be a fun and informative way to kick off our celebration of our Borough’s history and heritage”, said Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters.  “We invite all members of the public to attend the re-enactment of the meeting and hear some of the issues that were before the first elected officials in our community”.

The first Stone Harbor Council meeting was held in 1914.  Officials had to vote on several regulations and laws; one of them prohibited spitting at Council meetings.  Stone Harbor was incorporated as a Borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 3, 1914.  The act was based on the results of a referendum held on April 28^th, 1914.  The Borough first became an attraction in the late 19^th century when a wealthy Philadelphia investor bought the property and turned it into an upscale getaway for vacationers from Philadelphia and New York.

The re-enactment of the first Council meeting is one of several special events being held by Stone Harbor throughout its Centennial year.  A Summer Centennial Concert Series will be held every other Tuesday in July and August starting on July 1^st featuring Linda Gentile and the Jersey Shore Pops.  A Festival of Lights Boat Parade will be held on Saturday, August 9^th.  On Saturday, September 6^th the celebration culminates with the Stone Harbor Centennial Jubilee that will feature a parade, lobster bake, entertainment, games, and fireworks.

For more information, about Stone Harbor’s centennial celebration, please visit www.stoneharbornj.org.

Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters announced that the Borough has achieved a “Class 5” designation from the Community Rating System which scores communities on their effective flood mitigation practices.  Stone Harbor advances from a “Class 7” to a “Class 5” which increases flood insurance discounts for property owners from 15 percent to 25 percent starting in 2014.

“We are absolutely thrilled with this outstanding rating”, Mayor Walters said.  “The Borough’s diligent hard work on flood mitigation practices has been recognized and certified which will translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings on flood insurance premiums for property owners in our community.  This was a complete team effort by our administration and department heads to take the necessary steps to accomplish this goal”.

Stone Harbor received verification of the higher Community Rating System (CRS) score in a letter received this week from the Federal Emergency Management Agency/Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.  The Borough achieved 2513 points during the latest review of flood mitigation efforts which resulted in a much higher score.  The “Class 5” designation will result in a 25 percent discount on flood insurance premiums for all property owners in the community.

The Borough has taken major and significant steps before and after Hurricane Sandy to improve storm mitigation efforts throughout the community.  In 2013, Stone Harbor took steps to improve building elevations to reflect the new flood maps issued for the Jersey Shore from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  During the past year the Borough also enacted a multi-million dollar beach and dune restoration program at no cost to local taxpayers, and improved its emergency notification program with a new emergency alert website, www.stoneharboremergency.com.  Stone Harbor achieved points in 16 different CRS point categories, including Elevation Certificates, Outreach Projects, Flood Protection Assistance, Open Space Preservation, Higher Regulatory Standards, Draining System Maintenance, and Flood Warning Program, among others.

“The safety and welfare of our community consistently remains the Borough’s number one priority”, Mayor Walters said.  “Improvements to our flood and storm mitigation program is a project that is addressed daily by department heads in Stone Harbor.  Deep and significant discounts on flood insurance premiums is a result of the hard work by our community, and could not come at a better time.”

Veterans Free Beach Tags:

Free Veterans Beach Tags can be picked up at Borough Hall from the Front Desk receptionist Monday – Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.  These tags will be available until Memorial Day weekend.  As of Memorial Day weekend these tags can be picked up at the Beach Tag Office from 10 am to 4 pm.  Veterans will be issued a specialized veterans tag, not the yearly generic beach tag.

Documentation required issuing free Veterans Beach Tag:  All veterans must appear in person and provide a copy of their DD 214 Form which indicated that they have been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces or any of the following:

–Cape May County Vet­er­ans card, issued by the county

–Amer­i­can Legion card

–VFW card

–Viet­nam Vet­er­ans of Amer­ica card

–Dis­abled Vet­er­ans of Amer­ica card

–Marine Corps League card

.  In addition Veteran must show photo id for proof of identification and completion of Borough of Stone Harbor Beach Tag tracking form.

The proof of veteran’s status will be kept on file with the Borough.  If proof is on file veteran will only need to show Proof of identification in subsequent years in order to be issued the free beach Tag.

Each year a control sheet will be maintained by Beach Tag Supervisor.   Such control sheet must include Name of Veteran, Checkmark that DD 214 Form or other approved identification is on file, Tag Number issued and date issued.

Control Sheet will be held by Front Desk receptionist prior to Memorial Day weekend.  At that time all information will be forwarded to Beach Tag Supervisor.  At end of season, any unissued tags and Control Sheet will be turned into the Chief Financial Officer.  Chief Financial Officer will verify that the all tags issued are properly recorded on control sheet at end of season.

Beach Tag Supervisor will submit a monthly report to CFO indicating number of Free Veterans tags issued.

**Policy is subject to change once official rules and regulations are promulgated by the State of New Jersey.

***There is no change in policy for issuing free beach tags to Active Duty Military and families.  These tags will only be issued at Beach Tag office during normal business hours after Memorial Day weekend.

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The Borough of Stone Harbor is temporarily closing the 96th Street parking lot in the 300 block will be closed for necessary upgrades and repairs.  The lot will open in advance of Memorial Day weekend.  Thank you for your patience.

The Borough of Stone Harbor will hold its 2^nd Annual Community Paper Shredding Day on Saturday, May 17^th from 9:00am until 1:00pm at 95^th Street and the beach.  The paper shredding event is open to all residential and commercial property owners in Stone Harbor, and is provided as a free service by the Borough and the Stone Harbor Go Green Community Committee.  It will be held on the same day as the popular Stone Harbor Garden Club’s Annual Yard Sale which will be held at 96^th Street and the beach

The community paper shredding day will be conducted by Safeguard Document Destruction Company based in Millstone, NJ.  Safeguard Document Destruction will shred and destroy all documents on site.  The company provides an on-board monitor to view the destruction of your documents while it actually happens.  All employees of Safeguard are bonded and insured, and display identification badges at all times.  The mobile shredder provides high security, cross cut shredding that produces a shred that is unrecognizable and impossible to reconstruct.

Residential and commercial property owners in Stone Harbor may bring up to four file boxes of paper documents to be shredded at the event.  There is no need to remove any staples or clip binders before the shredding begins.  At the conclusion of the event, Safeguard will provide the Borough of Stone Harbor with a certificate of destruction; certificates will not be issued to members of the general public.

The event will be held rain or shine.  For additional information, please visit www.stoneharbornj.org or visit www.safeguarddd.com.